Tilting and dispensing device



Jan. 11, 1966 D. G. DAUS TILTING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1963 United States Patent 3,228,642 TILTIN G AND DISPENSING DEVICE Donald G. Daus, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Everett R. McGrew, Henderson, Iowa Filed May 16, 1963, Ser. No. 280,934 3 Claims. (Cl. 248142) This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to a cradle for holding rigid containers and dispensing the contents thereof by tilting and dumping.

There are numerous commercial devices for the dumping of containers, particularly drums. Many of them require the use of relatively expensive power or hydraulic equipment. There is a need for a simple mechanical device.

A common limitation on previous mechanical devices is the means for securing the container to the tilting cradle. Many use screw clamps which are inconvenient and time consuming. Many devices do not protect containers from impact damage. Still others require excessive lifting for heavy containers by one individual person.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simple, safe and efficient device for dumping a container to empty the contents thereof. The invention is particularly adaptable for the use in the safe emptying of heavy materials from open-end drums by one individual. This is accomplished by the use of gravity assisted acceleration in dumping by proper choice of pivot location.

Another object is to provide the minimum physical damage to the container during the dum ing operation.

A further object is to provide a simple, quick and convenient means for securing the container to be dumped in the tilting cradle and for removing the dumped container from the cradle.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a device of the class described which is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for which same is intended.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the device; dashed lines show a container in place.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the device, showing the optional seat belt retaining means.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the device and container after dumping, showing the hinged lifting lever.

The device comprises a cradle of two or more members 1 and 2, slightly longer than the containers to be handled, joined by two or more supports 3 and 4. The ends of members 1 and 2 are bent toward the container to form hooks 5 and 6 at the top and lips 7 and 8 at the bottom to secure the container to be dumped.

Alternately, one or more straps or belts, 16 and 17, with quick release closures, as in automotive-type seat belts 18 and 19, or similar flexible adjustable members, can be used to secure the container in the cradle, replacing hooks 5 and 6. Details of this conventional closure are found in FIGURES 2 and 3 of US. Patent No. 2,458,810 issued to Varney and Allen, January 11, 1949, which closures are in common use on automobiles. Attachment of these belts is conventional e.g. through loops on members 1 and 2, through brackets shown in FIGURE 1 of the Varney and Allen patent or by directly bolting to the members 1 and 2 through holes through the members which bolt may be engaged by thread in the hole or by a nut.

Right angular portions 9 and 10 are either rounded or knife-edged pivots, which extend outward on a common horizontal axis at right angles to the vertical center line of the container to be dumped and to the direction of dumping. This pivot is symbolized by a triangle in FIGURE 3. To either portion is attached a socket or receptacle 11 extending in a direction opposite to that of the dumping.

A hinged lever 12 is inserted into socket 11 with the hinge 13 and pin 14 down.

An impact plate 15 may be installed on the upper support 3 of suitable shock absorbent materials, such as polyurethane foam.

It will now be understood that an open top container, can, or drum may be placed between the vertical or near vertical members 1 and 2 of the cradle while pivoted on any stand, as an A frame or any convenient fulcrum, which may be integral with the receiving apparatus, by sliding from a pallet or roller conveyor. As the container is lifted by one person using the long hinged lever, the center of gravity of the container and cradle passes over the pivot fulcrum and the combined container and cradle, held together by hooks 5 and 6 and lips 7 and 8, will continue to tilt over by their own weight, striking the impact plate 15. As the lifting load on the lever 12 is relieved by the tilting container, the hinge 13 safely folds downward and may be released.

The location of the pivot along the members is important. The pivot should be as low as possible to minimize the lever movement necessary before the load will fall of its own Weight. It should be sufficiently high that the lower lip of the container will clear the floor or surfaces under the fulcrums and sufiiciently high that the final container angle with the horizontal, after dumping, exceeds the angle of repose of the contents of the container. The pivot can be located at any point between the vertical gravitational axis (through the center of gravity of the cradle, and loaded container) and the dumping edge. As it is placed closer to the axis, less displacement is needed before the container will tip of its own weight, but the closer to this axis, the greater is the problem of clearance of the bottom. Midway between these points is often ideal. If the pivot is at the outer edge, some dumping will take place before the container tips of its own weight, defeating one object of this invention.

The emptied container and cradle can be easily swung back. The container can be disengaged by pulling or sliding back onto the pallet or roller conveyor.

If a belt or strap is substituted for the hooks 5 and 6, the belt must be engaged before tilting and disengaged after dumping.

While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural detail not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tilting and dispensing device comprising a cradle formed of two members, each of which has a hook at the top and a lip at the bottom thereof and support means connected between the ends of said members; a portion connected to each member extending outwardly and downwardly with respect to the axis of said member; a socket located in one of said portions; a hinged lever insertable in said socket and a shock absorbent impact plate fixed on the uppermost support means to absorb the impact when the cradle is tilted to its dispensing position by the operation of the lever.

2. A tilting and dispensing device comprising a cradle formed of two members each of which has a hook at the top and a lip at the bottom thereof and support means connected between the ends of said members, a portion connected to each member extending outwardly with respect to the axis of said member; means for attachment of a lever to one of said portions and a lever attachable to said means.

3. A tilting and dispensing device comprising a cradle composed of two members, with conformable means for attachment of dispensable containers, consisting of adaptably mounted belts with automotive type quick release 3 seat belt closures, and with a portion connected to each member extending outwardly and downwardly with respect to the axis of said member; means for attachment of a lever to said portion and a lever attachable to said means. 1

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 150,082 4/1874 Reif 222166 X 4 Bell et a1., 222142 X Tolley 222166 Roscoe 222-166 X Samiran 222165 Nichols et a1. 222--142 Smolderen et al. 222-466 X LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

3/1923 Skarstad 248-142 10 T. R, LAMPE, c. R. CARTER, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A TILTING AND DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING A CRADLE FORMED OF TWO MEMBERS, EACH OF WHICH HAS A HOOK AT THE TOP AND A LIP AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND SUPPORT MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS; A PORTION CONNECTED TO EACH MEMBER EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF SAID MEMBER; A SOCKET LOCATED IN ONE OF SAID PORTIONS; A HINGED LEVER INSERTABLE IN SAID SOCKET AND A SHOCK ABSORBENT IMPACT PLATE FIXED ON THE UPPERMOST SUPPORT MEANS TO ABSORB 